Here’s a few quick notes on the advocacy fronts I’m working on.

WTA adds transit-accessible hikes to their quarterly Hike It section

I’m a big believer in the power of using small levers to make modest but important changes. So I’m thrilled to report that Washington Trails Association reached out earlier this year after I wrote several trip reports based on some of my transit trekking outings. The result was this Q&A — and an informal agreement that I’ll write a transit-focused listing for their Hike It section in their quarterly member magazine. The first one appeared in the summer 2023 issue – a trip guide for McCurdy Point in Port Townsend. 

It’s so important to keep showing that transit-based recreation is possible, so that people can try it, and to build support for its expansion. If you are a member of WTA or use their site to look up trip reports, please take a minute to express appreciation for featuring more transit-accessible hikes, and let them know you’d like to see an increase in this kind of content and to see WTA step up support for transit as one of the key means for addressing climate, equity, and conservation. You can email the editor at editor AT wta.org (I’d love if you cc me, too: hithere AT this webdomain).

Transit Trekker is a host organization for the National Week Without Driving

If you want to help invite leaders from the Washington state area to take on this challenge, get in touch using the email above and put “NWWD” in the subject line. If you have connections to Mason or Jefferson counties here in Washington state, I’d especially appreciate hearing from you. 

The Feds

I’m participating in organizing at the national level, learning about some developments at the federal level that could result in increased support for rural and small town transit — more on that this fall. Sign up to get on the mailing list if you want to be in the loop on that.

Want More Updates?

Check out the press page. And if you’ve got travel plans beyond Washington and want to find some transit treks, check out the resource page. Follow on the dying site of Twitter or, now, Blusky at transittrekker.bsky.social, or the blog.